When Bond film producer Albert Broccoli decided to adapt 007 creator Ian Fleming's most disparate work (a series of children's books inspired by his dislike of Beatrix Potter's work), he hedged his bets by hiring many of t... more &raquohe talents who'd made the Bond series a mega- success: actor Gert Frobe (title character in Goldfinger); famed production designer Ken Adam; and children's author/screenwriter You Only Live Twice Roald Dahl. Broccoli teamed them with three of the musical stars (the songwriting Sherman Brothers and actor-singer-dancer Dick Van Dyke) who'd help make Mary Poppins one of the '60s' most successful screen musicals. The result often strayed from Fleming's original plot, and it was only a modest success at the time of its release in 1968. However, its charms have won over successive generations, largely by the Sherman Brothers' Gilbert-and-Sullivan-for-the-knee-sock-set sophistication. --Jerry McCulley&laquo less

Synopsis

Amazon.com

When Bond film producer Albert Broccoli decided to adapt 007 creator Ian Fleming's most disparate work (a series of children's books inspired by his dislike of Beatrix Potter's work), he hedged his bets by hiring many of the talents who'd made the Bond series a mega- success: actor Gert Frobe (title character in Goldfinger); famed production designer Ken Adam; and children's author/screenwriter You Only Live Twice Roald Dahl. Broccoli teamed them with three of the musical stars (the songwriting Sherman Brothers and actor-singer-dancer Dick Van Dyke) who'd help make Mary Poppins one of the '60s' most successful screen musicals. The result often strayed from Fleming's original plot, and it was only a modest success at the time of its release in 1968. However, its charms have won over successive generations, largely by the Sherman Brothers' Gilbert-and-Sullivan-for-the-knee-sock-set sophistication. --Jerry McCulley

CD Reviews

Excellent music from a timeless film classic!

b.ross@juno.com | Los Angeles, California | 07/02/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am sure many of you are familiar with the movie which airs almost every year around Thanksgiving. When I was young, I had the soundtrack on an old 33 RPM album. I played the record so much, you could barely hear the music any longer. Call me crazy, but the title song, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," still ranks as one of my all time favorite songs. I tried in vain for years to replace the album; and forget about trying to find it on CD. Finally, it has been re-released, and on CD! Be a kid again! Enjoy the music for yourself! Recall the old days of a young Dick Van Dyke! And if you know where I can find one of the old Chitty Chitty Bang Bang toy cars, let me know!"

My son listens to this over and over and over.

b.ross@juno.com | 07/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember watching the movie when I was a kid and now my children are enjoying it too. My son especially loves it and I was very happy to find the music for him to listen to in the car. Now we listen to it constantly (I'm not sure if that's good or bad) We espcially like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Posh, and Old Bamboo."

Brilliant music and the best mastered cd soundtrack ever!!

b.ross@juno.com | 09/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How could the soundtrack to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" be anything but brilliant. Rykodisc stated that this was MGM's greatest selling soundtrack and its musical appeal cannot be faulted. The title song was nominated for an academy award, but it lost to 'The windmills of your mind'. The music was written by the songwriting team of brothers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who also wrote the music and lyrics to Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The jungle Book, Charlottes web and Tom Sawyer. Every single song is inspirational, and amoung the greatest they have written. Many people would say that the title song is the greatest song they have written. The 90 piece orchestra used to record the songs is stretched to its limit with "Me 'Ol Bam-Boo" and "Toot Seets". This soundtrack is extreamly clear, with no background hiss. I have never heard a recording of this vintage with such clarity and I own "The Sound Of Music 35th Anniversary edition. Only one problem, it might take you a while to get the theme song out of your head."

A childhood classic

b.ross@juno.com | 01/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although one can justifiably quibble with the consistency of the composers' work on this CD and the overall quality of the film itself, the effect of this music is worth more than the sum of its parts. There are endearing melodies and surprising lyrics(look at "Posh", observe the title track). There is a schmaltzy counterpoint("Music Box/Truly Scrumptious") that works despite itself. And the whole endeavour smells of the workshop that produced "Mary Poppins". Argue as you will, there were many of us touched by this flawed score and complicated film. We would be poorer without it."

Fun, charming, brings back old memories!

b.ross@juno.com | 05/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wonderful orchestrations & great singing by Dick van Dyke & Sally Ann Howes! Finally issued on cd after many years of unavailability. I grew up watching this film, and perhaps your favorites too will be "Toot Suites," "Hushabye Mountain" and "Doll on a Music Box." The movie has also been re-issued on video, digitally remastered as well!"